Released:
Bloodfist: September 1989
Bloodfist II: October 1990
Rated R
Director: Terence H. Winkless(Bloodfist), Andy Blumenthal(Bloodfist II)
Run Time: 85 Minutes(Bloodfist, Bloodfist II)
Distributor: New Concorde
Genre: Action/Martial Arts
Cast(Bloodfist):
Don “The Dragon” Wilson: Jake Raye
Joe Mari Avellana: Kwong
Billy Blanks: Black Rose
Michael Shaner: Baby Davies
Riley Bowman: Nancy
Cast(Bloodfist II):
Don “The Dragon” Wilson: Jake Raye
Rina Reyes: Mariella
Joe Mari Avellana: Su
Robert Marius: Dieter
Maurice Smith: Vinny Petrello
Tim Baker: Sal Taylor
Legendary film-maker Roger Corman has had an incredibly prolific career. As a producer, the man has over 400 titles to his name, even though many of them are un-credited. This guy is responsible for producing films like Death Race 2000, Piranha, Galaxy of Terror, and Battle Beyond The Stars. While a great many of his movies really aren’t that good, I would argue, there is no denying that Mr. Corman has had a major influence on the industry in general. He’s influenced film-makers like James Cameron, Joe Dante, Martin Scorsese, and Ron Howard. He is also responsible for putting many actors on the map such as Jack Nicholson, Peter Fonda, Charles Bronson, Robert De Niro, and David Carradine. Say what you will about Mr. Corman as a film-maker, but you can’t deny the influence and innovation that he has brought to the entire film industry. Roger Corman is also responsible for putting 11-time world kickboxing champion Don “The Dragon” Wilson on the map as an actor. In 1989, Don “The Dragon” Wilson would star in the first Bloodfist which would go on to spawn 8 more films in the series.
The film’s story begins with former boxer Jake Raye as he gets a phone call from the Philippines, saying that his brother has been killed. Jake flies to Manila to recover his brother’s body and to find the person responsible for killing him. As he learns that his brother’s killer may be participating in a local martial arts tournament, Jake comes across an artist who trains Jake as a kickboxer so he can enter the tournament. In 1989, even this setup with a tournament had been done to death, with the likes of Enter The Dragon and Bloodsport. So, the story is kinda there just to push things along. It also features a twist which you can see coming a mile away, so you really shouldn’t be surprised at what happens. The story is ultimately predictable, and there’s not really a whole lot of tension to be found.
Unfortunately, it’s not just the story that brings the film down. There’s a number of issues that, for me, don’t work. The majority of the characters are…..not great. Baby is by far one of the most irritating characters that I’ve come across in a movie of this sort. I know he was supposed to be some kind of comic relief, but he comes across as whiny and ungrateful. Riley Bowman’s Nancy fares a bit better, but she’s there just to be a pretty face and someone that Jake can hook up with. Kwong is one of my biggest gripes with this movie. The moment you meet the character, you’re already going to know that he has an ulterior motive for training Jake. The real saving grace of the film is Don Wilson. His character is quite likable and is someone that you can relate to. This is the role that put Mr. Wilson on the map, and it’s not hard to see why. He’s got these eyes that give off a real intensity. He’s obviously physically capable of doing his own fighting, because Mr. Wilson was still actively competing. The other guy that Bloodfist draws attention to is Billy Blanks. His character doesn’t really come across as a villain, but rather, just an opponent. An obstacle for Mr. Wilson’s character. But there’s something about Billy Blanks that you tend to pay attention to.
Unfortunately, the action in the film isn’t quite where I think it needs to be. It’s also been dealt a blow by some camera-work that feels really inept at times. Some of the action that you can see is actually not bad. The fight between Mr. Wilson and Billy Blanks is probably one of the biggest highlights of the film, as is the final fight between Jake and Kwong(Spoiler Alert! Kwong’s a bad guy!) Overall, the action is hit and miss. Don’t get me wrong, Don Wilson gives it his all, as does Billy Blanks, but they’ve been dealt a disservice by some questionable film-making. So, what Bloodfist has going for it is decent acting by Don Wilson, Billy Blanks and some decent fight scenes. I definitely understand that this is a real low-budget movie, but I can’t say that’s an excuse for a film that really could have been a lot better. That being said, it did give us “The Dragon” and it also opened up for more movies. Thankfully, the follow-up film is really good.
Final Recommendation for Bloodfist: It’s worth checking out to see how Don Wilson fared in his first lead role. Aside from that, the film is kinda….meh. 6.5/10
Bloodfist 2:
While the first Bloodfist was quite underwhelming for me, I can’t blame Don Wilson for that. That was a result of some questionable decisions on the part of the director and producer. It did give us one hell of a new lead actor, though. While Bloodfist wasn’t as good as it could’ve been, the follow-up film, Bloodfist II not only gets everything right, it does so with gusto.
Don “The Dragon” Wilson returns as Jake Raye in Bloodfist II, as he takes on a competitor at the beginning of the film. Jake inadvertently kills his opponent, and as a result gives up his title and walks away from the sport. Some time later, Jake gets a call from an old friend, Vinny, who says that he’s in trouble with a gangster by the name of Su. Flying out to Manila in the Philippines, Jake is ambushed and kidnapped. He, along with a number of other fighters, have been taken to an island off the coast of the Philippines where they are forced to fight to the death. Like the first film, the story here is nothing that we haven’t seen before, but it’s enough to get from one fight scene to another. In a film like this, that’s really all you need. This isn’t Citizen Kane. If you want Citizen Kane, then go watch Citizen Kane. But if you want to see people get kicked in the face a lot, there is definitely something of value here.
I have to come right out and say it: Bloodfist II is one of the most underrated action films of 1990. I mean, yeah, Don Wilson didn’t get the exposure that Jean-Claude Van Damme did, but this movie, I think, is somewhat better in many ways than movies like Bloodsport. I loved Bloodsport, but there’s something about Bloodfist II, that had me on the edge of my seat. Most of the problems that I had with the previous film have been rectified for this entry. The camera-work is infinitely better. The direction is somewhat inspired and the performances are decent. Don Wilson gets the edge here as Jake Raye, who is having to deal with the death of an opponent in the ring. I’m a sucker for a good redemption story, and there’s definitely one at the heart of this movie. The leading lady, played by Rina Reyes, is not a damsel in distress. She can hold her own against Su’s thugs. Joe Avellana is given a full-blown role as a villain, and he’s not too bad. The villain that inadvertently steals the show is Dieter. He’s kind of an over-the-top character, but I found him to be very bizarre. The actor’s clearly having fun.
The action in Bloodfist II is not only multiple steps above the first movie, but the fights and choreography rival that of a lot of the bigger budget action movies that were released that year. The camera allows us to see what’s actually happening, and it looks like a lot of the punches and kicks are landing. Often, the opening of a film can really determine what the rest will be like. Bloodfist II opens with an awesome match between Jake and his opponent. I got hooked the moment the film started. It’s also not very long before the next action sequence. While Bloodfist put Don Wilson on the map, it’s Bloodfist II that allows him to really tear things up, and I have to say this: Why the hell didn’t I see this movie years ago? This is awesome! Not do we get to see Mr. Wilson’s phenomenal skills, the other guys that are part of the scene get to show off too. We’ve got a guy that’s an expert in Shotokan Karate, a guy who is a military combat instructor, a Greco-Roman wrestler, a Tae Kwon Do expert and a boxer. Each of these guys get their moment to shine, mostly because the actors are legitimate experts in their specific art. THAT is what I love to see in movies like this. It’s Don’s show, through and through, but allowing these other guys to strut their stuff, makes the film more expansive.
If there’s a nitpick that I can honestly say that I have with Bloodfist II, is that the DVD is out-of-print. You have to buy it used. It’s too bad, I would love to see these movies in high definition. Overall, Bloodfist II is a hell of a good time. It’s non-stop action, with solid performances from Don Wilson, Miss Reyes, and Joe Avellana. Bloodfist has become something of a cult phenomenon. There are currently nine Bloodfist films. Don Wilson stars in eight of them. I’ve seen Bloodfist 2050, which wasn’t that good, but I’m really curious about the other ones. Obviously, Mr. Wilson has done more than just the Bloodfist movies, so I’m also looking forward to checking out his non-Bloodfist movies. My final conclusion is that while Bloodfist I put “The Dragon” on the map, it’s the second film that sets him loose. I don’t think I can recommend Bloodfist II enough. It’s that much fun.
Final Recommendation(Bloodfist II): 9/10